Research into Conventions of the Thriller Genre (Miss Miller)

'Conventional' refers to the elements that are common within different film genres. It is a constant pattern that can be used which allows the techniques to become almost predictable with in a film. Through featuring in many films some iconography and camera angles and lighting can become automatically associated with that particular genre.The film clip that I am going to be analysing is from the film cassadaga. This scene is one of the final clips of the film where the story line reaches it climax.

Unknown location
In this scene a dungeon or almost workshop is used to portray an enclosed area. The locations where abouts is never revealed when the man comes and goes from the workshop which adds to the element of unknown. This room has no windows and a door emphasising that there is only one way to leave. The fact there is no windows suggests that the location is possibly underground and creates a suspense of claustrophobia as it like being in a cupboard and suggests limited air. By not showing where the dungeon is the audience become unaware of the surrounding so as she escapes it sends a panic through the audience as they don’t know where she should run to either. 

Woods
As the girl escapes from the dungeon she opens a door way which leads to the floor in the middle of the woods. She then looks around at her options where to run which all seem as far as each other from civilisation and therefore possible help. Through being so isolated in the woods it creates an extra element of suspense as we believe once she’s escaped from the room that she is therefore free and has as it states ‘escaped’ however to then be thrown into her second conventional setting of the woods you begin to wonder if she’s ever going to escape.

Chase scene
After the girl chooses her way in which to run the man then catches her up and starts to chase after her through the woods. A chase scene is very typical and conventional of a thriller as they show how desperate the victim is to escape as they often put themselves in dangerous situations and add an element of suspense as you know the victim usually doesn’t escape and if she does its often very close. However in a more conventional chase scene it usually features the victim running away often slowly as they are weak from what they have endure and the villain typically walks slowly behind them suggesting a certain smugness and arrogance as they know they’re going to get catch them in the end regardless which makes the audience tense and nervous as you wonder why the villain is so calm as even though to us it appears his plan is falling apart his dedication to staying calm makes us believe he thinks otherwise.

Weapons
A weapon is used in the form of a workshops knife. A metal cutter is also used as a potential weapon as when the man is sharpening it up we imagine that he is planning to use it. This adds to the scene and makes it seem more realistic as it is a tool you would find just as you would find another type of knife in a kitchen. This allows the audience to put themselves into the scene and grabbing the knife as it happens to be the one familiar object available. As well as this through most people in their life having held a knife before through watching her stab him they can again imagine what that sensation must feel like which allows them to relate to not only the scene but victim which helps build a relationship between them both. As well as this as the villain begins to sharpen his tool as the sparks fly off it add to the intimidation to both the victim and the audience as it almost seems as though he’s trying to make a show of it which seems unusual. As well as this it adds to the desperation and fear as we know she doesn’t stand a chance. A weapon and in particular a knife is very conventional to the thriller genre as they allow the villain and victim to have more contact during their fight scene. This means in order for an incident to happen they have to be very close together which makes chase scenes more tense as they appear to close the distance between the victim and villain. A knife is also more commonly used as it creates a more gory death as multiple wounds are usually achieved as a result. As well as this through using a knife it also allows there to be a momentary struggle where the victim has to fight with all their will power to get the knife away from them and aimed towards the villain. This allows there to be more suspense as the scene can be dragged out as a death by knife is slower and more theatrical then the other more action conventional methods of a gun.

Female victim
The victim in the room is a young girl. This is conventional to a thriller as a female is typically seen as the weaker sex and so by trapping a female it makes the audience members feel more empathy towards them creating a bond built of fear for the victim as the villain is usually a man suggesting he is bigger and stronger than the victim suggesting to the victim that they are defenceless. However more typically a blonde female is used as they manage to portray more innocence to the audience emphasising their position as the victim.

Handheld
A handheld camera angle is used when the girl is running away and also in the fight scene. This camera movement creates a jerky unclear image which helps shows how desperate the girl is to get away as well as portraying that the scene was a chase scene. Handheld movements are very popular in thrillers as they seem less professional and so add a realistic touch to the clip as it seems more spontaneous. The realistic touch can relate then to the audience as they can imagine getting chase and what that must feel like. As well as this the jerky images created as a result of only someone’s hand being used to support the camera adds to the urgency of the scene. From being unclear this then helps to portray that the scene is a chase scene and express how desperate the boy is to get away. Through the camera being jerky this then appears to be how shaken up the actor or actress is as if they were to be holding the camera the shots would be both unclear and shaky which adds to the sense of fear shown by the character.